Main navigation

Advertisement

Viola Davis ‘always surprised’ by award show invites

Apple

Advertisement

Viola Davis is "always surprised" to be invited to award ceremonies.

The ‘Fences’ star admits she sometimes finds it hard to believe that she has been asked to attend so many award shows despite winning a Golden Globe earlier this year and being nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA amongst others.

Speaking on the red carpet at the 70th British Academy Film Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, she said: "I’m the girl on the carpet that’s tense. [I’m] with the good looking husband. I’m great …

"I always feel when I come to London, though, that I feel like I’ve been invited to the best party. I’m always surprised when I’m invited to this party. This is something I never thought I would be invited to and I am."

And the 51-year-old actress – who looked stunning in a beautiful blue gown at the event – hasn’t been able to tap her co-star Denzel Washington for advice as he always takes a very chilled approach to these events.

She added: "Denzel never has any messages. He’ll just say, ‘Where are you going?’ And I’ll say, ‘I’m going to the BAFTAs’ and he’ll say, ‘Have fun!’"

And Viola – who supported her friend Meryl Streep when she used her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes to slam Donald Trump – would love to see someone make an impassioned speech about a cause they believe in at Sunday night’s (02.12.17) event.

She said: "I feel like it’s everyone’s duty and privilege to speak out against anything they feel like it’s a political injustice."

Meanwhile, Viola previously revealed Meryl had warned her that her Golden Globes speech would annoy some people.

She said: "She told me she was going to p**s off some people of so I was bracing for impact. I love it! …

"She’s earned the right to say that and I think all of us felt a sigh of relief. Sometimes you need the first person to dive in there and have the courage and the bravery to give a mouthpiece to what we were all feeling. We all know that we are in the midst of change but I think that we as artists are really given permission to give ideas and what people are feeling a voice. At the end of the day, we do what we do to remind people to connect, that we are all in it together."